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I’m a big fan of raglan sleeves in soft fabrications that collapse back onto the contour of the shoulder line because they are flattering on a variety of body types. It’s amazing how this style of sleeve works equally well for both narrow and broad shoulders, but in different ways.

Raglan sleeves visually narrow a broad shoulder because the lack of shoulder seam draws attention away from the shoulder line. A lower neckline and tapered sleeves on a raglan sleeved top further soften a broad shoulder line.

Raglan sleeves add structure to a narrow shoulder line, especially when the neckline is high and the shoulder neck point close to the neck. The shoulder line is often sloppy and a tad wide with set-in sleeves when you have dainty shoulders. The raglan fits on the shoulder no matter what.

Raglan sleeves have been particularly fashionable in knit tops, tees and pullovers over the last few years and I’m thrilled about it. Have you noticed the flattering effects of soft raglan sleeves?

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This is valuable information. As a highschooler, I had a raglan sleeved top that got compliments, and how it fit my broad gangly shoulders was probably the reason. This information will also help me find tops for my sister who has very dainty shoulders.

This is actually one of the few cuts I avoid. I have narrow and a little rounded shoulders and find a set-in sleeve that hits on the edge of the shoulder most flattering on me. Pehaps it’s time to reconsider and give it a try?

Thanks for the pics. They help a lot to understand what raglan sleeves are. I am wearing GAP mesh pullover with raglan sleeves today. My narrow sloping shoulder line is not always easy to look good in these kind of sleeves but you hit the point about how the neckline should be high and neck shoulder point should be close to the neck.

For some reason the pictures are not loading for me. I’ll have to visit again later! I appreciate the detail in your explanation. My mother (who has very broad yet thin shoulders — coat hanger shoulders) always loved a raglan sleeve because she could move in it! My shoulders are not quite as broad as hers but they are similarly square, and I like the slight softening a raglan sleeve can provide. I also love a raglan sleeved coat because it can be easier to layer under.

Yes I agree, they can be flattering and very comfy. So far I have just one dress with this kind of sleeve and I really like it. I think you can also use the mixed media trend to emphasise or de-emphasise shoulder width if you trick the eye with a two tone top like the first example you showed above; depending one where the darker/ lighter shades are placed. Thanks for bringing this style to my notice, Angie.

This is interesting! I’ve been in the same camp as commenter Sigrid. As someone with small shoulders who is always trying to make her shoulder line look bigger to balance out her hips, I’ve tried to avoid raglan sleeves. They narrow and round my shoulder line too much. But I hadn’t thought about your point, which is that if I look for a high neckline, the shoulder line would also fall into place.

Ok, I’ve been wondering what raglan sleeves are for a while now. So much so that I almost posted he question! I’m still not sure I get it. Does is just mean the sleeves are soft or drapey? Or they have to shoulder seam?

So I have actually thought about this topic A LOT, since raglan sleeves are extremely popular in hand knitting patterns (because they are easier both to design and to knit). I’ve come to the conclusion that they don’t work for me. It’s not about the size of my shoulders but the fact that they are rounded and slope downward. The strong diagonal line of the raglan emphasizes the slope.

I also believe it is near impossible to get a tailored fit with a true raglan sleeve because of its design. There’s always too much fabric under the arm. For a loose fit this does not matter much.

There are ways to mitigate the above problems, although I tend to prefer set in sleeves. You can have a modified raglan where the angle is shallower at the top, which creates a slightly more horizontal line. This can end up just looking crooked though. A raglan on a wide, deep neckline is also generally less problematic because the raglan seam itself is shorter, and the wide, deep neckline draws attention away from the shoulders.

I’m not sure they flatter me so much, but I love the look in theory. Like Laura I think they make me feel too small up top and unbalanced. When I do wear raglan sleeves they always feel very casual to me (the sweatshirt or baseball tee connection I guess). I recently acquired a mesh sweater and a colorblocked turtleneck with raglan sleeves but have only had one opportunity weatherwise to wear them.

As someone with very narrow and sloping shoulders, raglan sleeves can be both my friend or my enemy. As you’ve mentioned Angie, if the neck of the sweater is closer to my actual neck, the sleeve can really work to make my shoulder line look wider and more substantial than it is. But if the neck of the sweater is wider, forget it – it just slides right off my shoulder altogether.

I have a slight slope to the shoulder as well but love raglan sleeves. Have not had one with contrasting/colorblocked sleeves for some time but when I did, I noticed that it balanced out my top half well (big bust/dark arms/somehow it worked).
Also a huge fan of a sportier style so the raglan in a dressed up fabric appeals to me.

I love raglan sleeves and wore a lot of them in high school and college. I have a strong shoulder line. I haven’t worn any lately, except for a baseball shirt that I passed on for being too sporty. I’ll have to look for them again–thanks for the tip!

I think it’s worth rethinking the raglan sleeve, Sigrid and Laura. I have square but dainty shoulders and love the added structure of raglan sleeves as long as the tops are soft.

Mona and Merwoman, there you go. That’s how I see it too.

Suz, good point about a raglan coat (there is more room under and around the shoulder area). And tell us if you continue to have problems with the picture loading.

Diane G, using mixed media further emphasizes and deemphasizes the shoulder line. Great point.

Patti, the looser underarm area is breezy and comfy. Excellent observation.

Raisin, it’s the cut of the sleeve that makes it raglan. There is no shoulder seam. The sleeves are attached via the neck-points and underarm-points. Or “diagonally” as Suz suggests. Baseball shirts are usually raglan so you’re spot on.

Diana, a raglan provides structure on the shoulder points, not under the arm. A lower neck raglan can work because to your point – it shortens the length of the diagonal line. That said, it’s the high necked raglan that gives the shoulder line more structure. And since you don’t like to wear high necklines, I understand your preference for a set in sleeve.

I have broad shoulders and a large bust, and I always feel like raglan sleeves emphasize my top half, and not in a good way. Maybe because when I think of a raglan sleeve I think of a style like the photo on the left, with a crew neck. I haven’t seen any with lower necks… I guess I should investigate that option.

Coming back to make one more point re: fitting a raglan sleeve. I don’t believe that they’re an ideal fit for those of us who are short-waisted or just petite on top in general. The reason being that in order to get the traditional 45 degree angle on the raglan line, it has to be a certain length in order to get the proper width for the body. On a wider neckline, this is less of a problem since the neckline makes up for some of the width. So, on a higher necked raglan (which you are right, I don’t prefer for other reasons) I will also often get a pooch of extra material on my upper chest. Again, a modified raglan (with a shallower slope or even a horizontal saddle-shoulder tab at the top) can counteract this, but I rarely see this in storebought clothing.

I’m not sure if I like raglan sleeves on me or not! After reading all of the comments, it has helped me to understand why. At the moment, I think I just have a sweater or two with raglan sleeves. Raglan sleeves can sometimes make me feel bulky or masculine, but it really depends on all of the other variables of the garment.

I have always liked raglan sleeves, for the look, comfort, and the simplicity of the fit (i.e., not having to find tops with the shoulder line in just the right place). I especially love a raglan sleeve on a coat. But I often teach a raglan sleeve t-shirt lass, and I have a lot of potential students who won’t take it, saying they just will not wear that style. It’s kind of infuriating, because I think a lot of them would actually look good in it. Your reasons make sense to me, Angie.
To Diana’s points, I think it may be easier to sew a raglan sleeve to fit different body types than to knit one. For a full-busted figure, for example, you add fabric at the bustline by slashing and spreading the pattern right at the center front at the bustline, leaving the shoulder seams alone. I’m not sure how one would do that when working with rows of knitting.

I have always loved this kind of sleeve for the ease of fit. However I have learned through YLF that a deep neckline with this cut emphasizes my visually small shoulder line. (I measured the other day and my shoulder circumference, at 38″, is still the widest part of me. But my hips and thighs at 37″ LOOK wider and that is what matters, although I shouldn’t complain too much as I have fairly balanced proportions.) So, to your point Angie, a higher neckline is better on someone with my build. Not to mention that when the neckline is very open, the top will fall off of my shoulders.

This is a style I need to be extra picky about. Like Diana I am short waisted (I also have a large bust) so any bulk under my arms is not a good look on me. A raglan sleeve, high neckline & bulky fabric makes me look like a fridge. Change that to a soft fabric & low neck & it is much better.

It’s quite odd. I avoid raglan sleeves like the plague as I find them very unflattering on me. I have no idea why. Somehow they feel sloppy or droopy, I think, and that’s not a look I enjoy. I like something that is more crisp and tailored, perhaps. Interesting. I guess I need to watch and learn some more.

I used to avoid raglan sleeves because of my association of them with the baseball shirt… which I avoided because I’m sooooo unathletic it’s not funny. But I love the fashion version. I don’t know I’ve noticed they’re flattering, but they are so cool because of the mixed media factor. That’s my thing.